London Calling: Devolution and the London Living Wage Campaign

Deborah Hann and David Nash

Industrial Relations Journal, 2026, vol. 57, issue 4, 259-273

Abstract: This article examines the role of devolution in shaping employment relations through a case study of the Living Wage in London. Drawing on a mixed methods approach it explores the rationale and methods by which the Greater London Authority has promoted fair pay despite possessing limited direct legislative power. The article identifies five key mechanisms; its role as an employer, soft regulation, procurement, institution‐building, and ideological leadership, and evaluates their effectiveness in promoting Living Wage adoption in the capital. Our findings suggest that that collaborative, multi‐actor strategies can reshape employment practices, highlighting the potential of ‘devolved without power’ governance to reconfigure labour standards.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:indrel:v:57:y:2026:i:4:p:259-273

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